Illuminated house number plate



Nov. 8, 1960 L. J. FAzErgAs 2,958,969 ILLUMINATED HOUSE NUMBER PLATE Filed Feb. 25. 1957 9 I9 am# f5- 11. 23

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INVENTOR. ESL/E J. FAZE/(AS ATTORNEYS nited States Patent ILLUMINATED HOUSE NUlVIBER PLATE Leslie J. Fazekas, Campbell, Calif. (1981 Assunta Way, San Jose 24, Calif.)

Filed Feb. 25, 1957, Ser. No. 641,896

2 Claims. (Cl. 40130) The present invention relates to house number plates, and pertains more particularly to an illuminated number plate in which numerals are removably mounted, and which may be conveniently connected into a usual door bell circuit.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplied illuminated house number.

The invention also provides a house number frame having tubular numeral retaining means attached thereto in a manner to clamp numerals for designating a house number therebeneath.

The invention also provides a combination wherein a selected plurality of numerals are releasably clamped to a supporting plate by means of a tubular member which also comprises a lamp housing.

A still further object of the invention is to Iprovide an improved illuminated house number plate with integral door bell and light circuit wiring, conduit strips being removably mounted vin the frame at the ends of the numeral zone thereof.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a front elevational View of an illuminated number plate embodying the invention with a door bell pushbutton incorporated therein, portions being broken away, and concealed portions of the wiring and one of the lamps being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the combined light and doorbell circuit employed in the device shown in Figs. 1-3.

sectional view taken along line Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of number plate embodying the invention, a tube cap having a light mounted therein being shown removed from the assembly.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Briefly, the invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 3 comprises an illuminated num-ber plate and pushbutton assembly A comprising a backing plate 10 of stiff, weather resistant material, such as plastic or metal, having an upper tubular light housing 11 and a lower tubular pushbutton support member 12 secured Ithereto. The tubes 11 and 12 are parallel to each other, and are spaced apart so as to clamp numerals 14 designating a house number to the backing plate 10, and also to clamp conduit moulding strips 15 and 16 at opposite ends of the numerals.

Referring to 4the drawings in detail, the backing plate 10 may be of any stil, weather proof material, such as, for example, V16 inch aluminum plate. The upper tube 11, which serves as a lamp housing and numeral retaining olamp, may comprise a body portion 18 of aluminum tubing, having a light emitting slot 19 cut in its lCC bottom side, and capped on both ends by spring clip tubing caps 20 of a well known type.

Lamp sockets 21 and 22 are mounted one adjacent each end of the tube 11 so that light from lamps 21a and 22a w-ill be directed downwardly through the slot 19 `onto numerals 14 mounted in the device. The upper tube 11 is attached to the plate 10 by conventional, countersunk head, self-tapping or sheet metal screws 23.

An outlet opening 24 (Figs. l and 2) preferably is provided clear through the rear wall of the upper tube 11 and the backing plate 10 to allow conductor wires (not shown) to be passed therethrough if it is desired not to employ a pushbutton 25 with the device.

The lower tube 12 may be generally similar to the upper tube 11, or, if preferred, may be of smaller diameter. The lower tube 12 is unslotted, but is provided with conventional tube caps 20 on its ends similarly to the upper tube 11. The lower tube 12 is secured to Ithe backing plate 10 in a manner similar to the upper tube 10.

A pushbutton switch 25 preferably is mounted in the forward wall of the lower tube 12, and conductor wires 27 and 28, preferably of small diameter enameled wire, are `connected one to each terminal of the pushbutton switch and are threaded through holes 27a and 28a, respectively, in the lower tube 12, and thence are carried upwardly across the outer face of the backing plate 10 and into the upper tube 11 through holes 27b and 28h.

The upper ends of the wires 27 and 28 are each connected to a terminal of the lamps 21a and 22a, respectively. vThe tluted conduit strips 15 and 16 which protect and conceal the inter-tube portions of the wires 27 and 28, are of a length which permits them to be cammed into position beneath the tubes 11 and 12 after the numerals 14 have been clamped into position between the tubes by tightening the screws 23. To this end the ends 15a and 16a of each conduit strip are cut along inwardly converging angles which allow them to be swung into and out of position as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1.

A conductor wire 29 connects the other terminals of the lamps 21a and 22a from those connected to the conductors 27 and 28, so that the two lamps thus are connected in series with the push-button switch 25. Conductor wires 30 and 31 of a usual door bell circuit (Figs. 2 and 4) are connected one to each terminal of the pushbutton switch 25. The wire 30 is connected to the secondary coil 32 of a conventional door bell transformer 33 and the wire '31 is connected to one terminal of a door bell 34. A conductor wire 35 connects the other terminal of the door bell to the secondary coil 32 of the transformer 33. Thus the lamps 21a and 22a are always connected in series with the door bell to the secondary of the transformer 33.

The output of the transformer 33 is such, with respect to the resistance and operating current requirements of the series `circuit including the lamps and the door bell, that, with the pushbutton switch open, sucient current will flow through this circuit to constantly illuminate thev lamps 21a and 22a, but not suicient to energize the door bell.

Closing the pushbutton switch 25, however, creates a direct shunt across the lamps 21a and 22a, thereby allowing a sufficient flow of current through the usual coils (not shown) of the door bell 34 to actuate the latter. The lamps will, of course, be de-energized during lthe time the pushbutton switch is closed, but this is immaterial, and they immediately light up again when the pushbutton is released.

The numerals 14 may be of any suitable weather proof material, such as plastic, enameled sheet steel, or sheet aluminum, with the numbers painted or otherwise applied thereon or embedded or cut therein in any one of a number of well known ways.

For assembling the numerals 14 on the backing plate 10, the screws 23 which khold the tubes 11 and 12 to the backing plate are loosened to admit the numerals. The numerals 14 to form a desired number then, in proper sequence, are slidably inserted endwise along the backing plate between the tubes 11 and 12, and the backing plate as shown in Fig. 2. The screws 23 then are tightened to draw the tubes 11 and 12 into tight, edge gripping relation with the numerals.

VThe assembled number plate A, as shown in Fig. 1, then is ready for mounting. This can be done by connecting the two usual wire leads 30 and 31 of the door bell circuit one to each terminal of the pushbutton switch 25. These wires 30 and 31 may be the usual door bell wires conventionally provided for connecting a pushbutton switch to a door bell, and are usually available adjacent the front door in either new or old houses. These leads 30 and 31 usually project from a hole 37 (Fig. 2) provided in a door frame 28 or other suitable place upon which the device A is to be mounted. After the leads 30 and 31 have been connected to the pushbutton switch 25, the number plate A is then secured in place by usual ilat head, wood mounting screws 39 which pass through holes provided therefor in the backing plate 10, and are screwed into the supporting member 38.

The conduit strips 15 and 16 then are slidably inserted to the position shown in Fig. l with their ends cammed between the tubes 11 and 12 and the backing plate 10, and overlying the wire portions 27 and 28 to conceal and protect the latter, and also to cover and conceal the mounting screws 39,

The modified form B of the invention shown in Figs. kand 6 is in most respects similar to the form A shown in Fig. l. Where parts of the two forms are substantially identical, the same reference numeral is employed for both, with the prime added for the part shown in Fig. 5. ln the form B, instead of the slotted tube body 18 employed in Fig. l, a piece of sheet metal may be rolled to form a tubular body member 40 (Fig. 5). The lower edges 41 and 42 of the member 40 are spaced apart to provide a slotted opening 43 lengthwise therein. A lamp socket 44 may be mounted in each of a pair of tube caps 45, one of which is provided for each end of the tube 4t). Suticient slack may be left in conductor wires 27', 28' and 29' leading to the sockets to permit either cap 45 with its socket 44 thereon to be withdrawn from the tube for replacing the lamps when necessary.

The lower tube 12 may be generally similar to the lower tube 12 of Fig. l, and is provided with conventional tube caps 20 thereon. Only three numerals 14' are shown mounted in Fig. 5, but the number of numerals employed, as well as the length of backing plate and tubes 40 and 12', is determined by the size of the house number required. In order to accommodate a maximum number of numerals for the length of the backing plate 10', the conduit strips 15' and 16' may be moved outwardly close to the ends of the backing plate.

A modied form of pushbutton mounting is provided in the form B of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6. With this arrangement, a hole 52 (Fig. 6) is provided in the backing plate 10 of a size to receive a conventional snap type pushbutton switch 25' therein. This hole 52 is provided at one end of the backing plate 10 in the space between the tubes 40 and 12'. A groove 53, which may be provided by a saw cut made with a conventional circular metal cutting saw (not shown), is provided in the rear face of the backing plate 10', and extends from a point adjacent the pushbutton hole 52 to registering holes 54 provided in the rear of the upper tube 40 and backing plate 10'.

The conductor wires 27 and 28', one from a terminal of each of the lamp sockets 44, are passed through the registering holes 54 and are secured in the groove 53 by suitable plastic material 55 of a type commonly employed in electrical tittings and appliances for embedding conductors therein.

The conductor wires 27 and 28 emerge from the plastic material 55 adjacent the pushbutton hole 52 and are connected one to each terminal of the pushbutton switch 25 in the same manner as that described for the number plate A of Figs. l-4.

In the event that a pushbutton switch is not required in the number plate B, as in the case where the number plate is to be mounted `above a door, the hole 52 may be covered as by one lof the numerals 14', or vby a conduitstrip 15. In this way the number plate may be made up selectively with or without a pushbutton as the customer may desire.

The invention provides a neat and ornamental house number with, if desired, a combination pushbutton, all of which may be mounted and connected ready for operation by simply connecting the two sides of the pushbutton to the wires which conventionally are provided for the pushbutton of the door bell now installed on. most houses in the UnitedStates.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred' embodiment of the present invention, and one moditied form thereof, it will be understood however, that other' changes and modifications may be made in the details' thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is dened in the following claims.

I claim:

1 A house number plate comprising, in combination, a rigid backing plate having a pair of holes therein one adjacent each end of the plate for receiving mounting screws, a pair of tubes mounted in axially rparallel relation one adjacent each of the upper and lower edges of the backing plate, means attaching each of the tubes to the backing plate, the attaching means for one of said tubes being screw threaded, one of said tubes having a light emitting slot extending lengthwise of the side thereof directed toward the other of said tubes, electric light means mounted in the slotted tube to direct light therethrough onto the backing plate between the tubes, a plurality of numeral plates of thin sheet material superimposed in contact with the face of the backing plate and with their upper and lower edges inserted into the angle between diverging portions of the tubes and the flat backing plate, a pair of ornamental strips similarly superimposed on the backing plate one over each of the screw holes therein, and with their upper and lower ends similarly inserted between the tubes and the backing plate, whereby, upon tightening said screw threaded means, said one tube `is drawn into gripping relation with the edge portion of the numeral plates and ornamental strips between said rst one tube and the backing plate, a pushbutton switch mounted on said backing plate laterally clear of said numeral plates, a pair of conductor wires connected to the electric light means in the upper tube and to the pushbutton switch and extending along the rear of said plate for connection to an electric doorbell circuit.

2. A house number plate comprising, in combination, a rigid backing plate having a pair of holes therein one adjacent each end of the plate for receiving mounting screws, a pair of tubes mounted in axially parallel relation one adjacent each of the upper and lower edges of the backing plate, means attaching each of the tubes to the backing plate, the attaching means for one of said tubes being screw threaded7 one of said tubes having a light emitting slot extending lengthwise of the side thereof directed toward the other of said tubes, electric light means mounted in the slotted tube to direct light therethrough onto the backing plate between the tubes, a

plurality of numeral plates of thin sheet material superimposed in contact with the face of the backing plate and with their upper and lower edges inserted into the angle between diverging portions of lthe tubes and the flat backing plate, a pair of ornamental strips similarly superimposed on the backing plate one over each of the screw holes therein, and with their upper and lower ends similarly inserted between the tubes and the backing plate, whereby, upon tightening said screw threaded means, said one tube i-s drawn into gripping relation with the edge portion of the numeral plates and ornamental strips between said irst one tube and the backing platea and a pair of conductor wires connected to the electric light means in the upper tube for connection to an electric doorbell circuit.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Crandall May 9, Ward June 14, Foy July 7, Kimball Dec. 7, Beaven Ian. 14, Temple July 20, Clark Nov. 29, Yager Oct. 30, Remington June 5, Fazekas Oct. 2

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 15, Great Britain May 13, 

